Luca Van Assche is back in the Top 100 after a composed title run in Lille that felt equal parts hard work and good timing.
The 21-year-old Frenchman added the Play In Challenger trophy to his early-season haul, beating Alexander Blockx in the final to claim his second Challenger title of 2026 and push himself back into tennis’s more visible ranks.
Van Assche Returns To The Top 100
“This victory shows that I worked very hard before the start of the season,”
Luca Van Assche
Van Assche closed the Lille final in straight sets, defeating Alexander Blockx 6-2, 6-4 while demonstrating a calm, efficient game on home clay and in front of a supportive crowd.
The French No. 7 seed arrived in Lille with momentum after Quimper and converted on the big moments, climbing back above the Top 100 threshold as a direct result of lifting the trophy and his season form.
Across the week Van Assche showed defensive resolve, saving an eye-catching 25 of 28 break points according to Infosys ATP Stats, a number that helped him avoid spirals and close out tight stretches.
Milestones And Playing Identity
The Lille victory made Van Assche the first player to claim five Challenger 125 titles since the category began in 2019, a milestone that suddenly reads like modern-era consistency at the high end of the Challenger ladder.
Those five titles include 2026 Lille and Quimper, 2025 Olbia and 2023 Sanremo and Pau, and they helped the 21-year-old first crack the Top 100 after Sanremo in 2023.
Van Assche has previously climbed as high as No. 63 in the PIF ATP Rankings and, thanks to Lille, is back above the Top 100 for the first time since May 2024, occupying the final spot in this week’s list.
Other Challenger Winners This Week
Beyond Lille, 21-year-old Stefanos Sakellaridis captured his maiden Challenger crown at the Delhi Open, edging Oliver Crawford in a three-hour final and taking a big jump in the rankings as a result of that win.
Sakellaridis rocketed up 55 places to a career-high No. 220 after the narrow 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(6) victory, which included a dramatic deciding-set tiebreak that the Greek youngster managed to pinch.
Borna Gojo earned his third Challenger crown at the Chacachallenger – Metepec Open by knocking out three of the top four seeds en route to the title and handling Alexis Galarneau 6-1, 6-4 in the final.
In South America, Guido Ivan Justo celebrated his first Challenger victory on home soil in Tigre, coming back to beat Lautaro Midon 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 and climb to a career-high of No. 277.
The Challenger Tour continues to serve as a crucible where young prospects and seasoned pros reset careers, and in Lille the home crowd saw another French champion in what was the sixth time a French player lifted the Play In trophy in an eighth edition marked by strong domestic performances.
For Van Assche the immediate reward is ranking clarity and momentum; for the Challenger circuit the week reaffirmed its role as both a stepping stone and a proving ground, where matches are won by margins and mindset more than flash alone.
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Christoph Friedrich is a German tennis player and coach currently residing in Oakland, California. He began his tennis journey at the age of eight and has since dedicated his life to the sport. After working as a tennis coach and hitting partner in New York City for eight years, Christoph decided to share his knowledge and experience with tennis players around the world by creating the My Tennis Expert blog. His goal is to make tennis education accessible to everyone and help players select the best equipment for their game, from racquets and strings to shoes and overgrips. Christoph's extensive research and expertise in tennis technology make him a valuable resource for players of all levels.
